By Shehu Danjuma

The Katsina State Government is to establish an orphans protection desk in the state Ministry of Justice to protect the rights of orphans, the Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi, says.

The desk will serve as a complaint point for orphans that their relations seize their wealth after the demise of their parents, he said in Katsina.

Danladi spoke during an orphans and needy endowment fund raising ceremony, organised by the Izalah Islamic Sect, Katsina Branch, on Sunday..

He said the unit would be called Orphans Care Desk for orphans and their mothers to lodge complaints against those who cheated them.

It has come to the knowledge of the state government and the Ministry of Justice that some people have formed the habit of cheating orphans of their wealth after the death of the parents.

The Ministry of Justice is ready to deal with such greedy relatives who had been cheating orphans in the state, Danladi said.

In his remark, The National Chairman of Muslims Orphans protection committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminchi, appealed to wealthy individuals and organisations to support orphans financially through donations to the fund.

Aminchi, a former Deputy Governor of Katsina State, said that the committee spent huge sums in providing succour for orphans during Ramadan in 2017.

He said the committee had established scholarship schemes to enable orphans to further their studies after the death of their parents.

In his contribution, the Chairman of Izalah Islamic Sect in Katsina State, Sheikh Yakubu Musa, advised Muslims to be their brothers keeper by assisting orphans and the needy.

Musa said that orphans deserved the support of well-meaning Muslims.

Source: NAN

The police said today they have invited Senate President, Bukola Saraki over 5 April multiple bank robbery in Offa Kwara state, during which 33 persons, including nine policemen, were killed.

Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood also announced the arrest of Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab, the chief of staff to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Alabi Olalekan, his Personal Assistant, Political, as investigations over the gruesome robbery deepened.

The police claimed five of the bandits arrested and who have made confessions during interrogations indicted the senate president.

The police therefore wanted to interrogate the senator, who is Number 3 person, in the order of protocol in the country. The police did not give a specific time they wanted Saraki to report.

The Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is being invited by the Nigeria Police Force to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations levelled against him from the confessions of the Five (5) Gang Leaders, namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other Seventeen (17) suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery and the gruesome killing of 33 innocent persons which include some pregnant women and nine Police personnel, Moshood said.

The police in the statement appeared to have dropped hints on what they wanted to ask Saraki about, as they claimed that the five men, who were the leaders of the bandits `admitted, confessed and volunteered statements that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The other hints dropped were the recovery of one Toyota Prado Jeep with Reg. No. 19KWGH belonging to the Personal Assistant, Political to the Governor of Kwara State and a Sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony.

According to the police, the Five gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name Youth Liberation Movement a.k.a Good Boys admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Police explained why the Chief of Staff and the Personal Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed were also arrested:

A Lexus jeep GX-300 (Ash Colour) with a sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony used by the gang leader (Ayoade Akinnibosun, during the bank robbery and the killing of the 33 innocent persons was taken to Government House, Ilorin on 16th May, 2018 where the sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony was removed before another plate number (Reg. No. Kwara, KMA 143 RM) registered in the name of Ayoade AKinnibosun the Overall Commander of the Offa Bank Robbery was then attached to the vehicle to cover up the identity of the said vehicle.

The exhibit vehicle was subsequently recovered from the premises of the Min. of Environmental and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara State. While the sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony removed from the vehicle was recovered from one Adeola Omiyale who drove the said Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin immediately after the Bank Robbery.

The Personal Assistant (Political) to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekan, who is privy to information that the Police is looking for the Lexus Jeep as an exhibit used in the Offa Bank Robbery directed one Adeola Omiyale to relocate the Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin. The PA (Political) is currently in Police custody and has made useful statement assisting the Police in further investigation into the case.

A revolver pistol and pump action gun were recovered by the Police Investigation Team from the Personal Assistant (Political) to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekans Farm where he directed his brother to hide them after his arrest by the Police.

In order to conceal evidence, the Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab who has been arrested and taken into Police custody, arranged the removal of the sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony from the exhibit vehicle.

The police gave an assurance that they will continue to ensure that the rule of law prevails in every case under investigation and every offender is brought to justice.

*Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY M 37Yrs Gang Leader (Coordinated the Killings) From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.

• Ibikunle Ogunleye M 36Yrs Gang Leader, Killed Two (2) Persons. From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State

• Adeola Abraham M 35Yrs Gang Leader, Killed Five (5) Persons. From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.

*Salaudeen Azeez M 49Yrs Gang Leader, Killed Two (2) Persons. From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.

*Niyi Ogundiran M 37Yrs Gang Leader, Killed Two (2) Persons (Latest Confession). From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.

• Michael Adikwu M 30Yrs Sectional Gang Leader, Killed Twenty Two (22) Persons, mostly at the Police Station.

• Kabiru Afolabi M 26Yrs Principal Suspect

• Omoseni Kassim M 28Yrs Principal Suspect

• Kayode Opadokun M 35Yrs Principal Suspect

• Kazeem Abdulrasheed M 36Yrs Principal Suspect

• Azeez Abdullahi M 27Yrs Principal Suspect

• Adewale Popoola M 22Yrs Principal Suspect

• Adetoyese Muftau M 23Yrs Principal Suspect

*Alexander Reuben M 39Yrs Principal Suspect

*Richard Buba Terry M 23Yrs Principal Suspect

*Peter Jasper Kuunfa M 23Yrs Principal Suspect

*Ikechukwu Ebuka Nnaji M 29Yrs Principal Suspect

• Moses Godwin M 28Yrs Principal Suspect

*Adeola omiyale M 38Yrs. From Isanlu Isin Town, Isin LGA, Kwara State.

*Femi Idowu M 34Yrs

*Alabi Olalekan M 49Yrs-PA Political to Executive Governor, Kwara State

• Yusuf Abdulwahab M 58Yrs Chief of Staff to Executive Governor, Kwara State

All the exhibits recovered

*Two (2) AK47 Rifles

• Two (2) Barrette Pistols

• One (1) Pump Action Rifle

  *One (1) Revolver Pistol In Police Custody in Ilorin

• Lexus RX300 Jeep with Reg. No. Kwara, KMA 143 RM belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (Gang Leader) Used for the Bank Robbery

• Mercedes Benz Compressor with Reg. No. Lagos LT496 KJA belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (Gang Leader) Used for the Bank Robbery

• One (1) Toyota Prado Jeep with Reg. No. 19KWGH belonging to the PA Political to the Executive Governor, Kwara State In Police Custody in Ilorin

*One (1) Toyota Camry Saloon Car with Reg. No. LRN 481 FE In Police Custody in Ilorin

*The Cash Sum of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000.00) In Police Custody in Ilorin

*Four (4) Phones of victims recovered

*One (1) Sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony

First Bank Offa (ii) Guaranty Trust Bank Offa (iii) ECO Bank Offa (iv) Zenith Bank Offa (v) Union Bank Offa (vi) Ibolo Micro Finance Bank Offa and (vii) the Divisional Police Headquarters, Offa.

Source: NAN

By Bukola Adetoye

The Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) said Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, has paid a total of N37, 546 billion to pensioners since 2015.

According to a statement signed by the Director-General of LASPEC, Mrs Folashade Onanuga, on Sunday in Lagos, the figure represented the total pension paid to 9,045 retirees of the state.

The LASPEC Director-General said the governor released N859, 059 million to offset the Accrued Pension Rights of 158 retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in May.

She said earlier N859, 059 million was paid to 158 Public Service retirees, bringing the total pension paid by the governor since assumption of office to N37, 546 billion.

She explained the governor had been releasing funds every month to off-set the backlog of pension to Lagos retirees.

She said despite the high funding obligations of the current pension scheme, the government was committed to offsetting the backlog of pension, and would soon commence payment to 2016 retirees.

Onanuga said the government was fine-tuning the process of rolling out benefits that would make life easier for retirees.

I, however, implore the retirees to study leaflets distributed by the state government on Annuity and Programmed Withdrawal for receipt of monthly pension entitlements, before picking their choice, she said.

Source: NAN

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has called for a collective action against plastic pollution in Africa.

The Communication Officer, Climate Change and Green Growth Department, of the bank, Mrs Sonia Borrini, said on Sunday in Abuja, that plastic pollution is alarming and dangerous to the environment.
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Her call is coming on the heels of the 2018 World Environment Day slated for June 5, with the theme: Beat Plastic Pollution.

Every year, 500 billion plastic bags are used around the world, 13 million tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean and 17 million barrels of oil are used on plastic production.

About100,000 marine animals are killed by plastics and 83 per cent of tap water are found to contain plastic particles.

In particular, it is impacting the ocean, which is the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe, major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere, AfDB said.

AfDB said it would join the rest of the world to celebrate the World Environment Day on June 5, as well as the World Ocean Day on June 8, with focus on Preventing Plastic Pollution and Encouraging Solutions for a Healthy Ocean.

It said through this initiative, the bank was reconfirming its commitment to playing a leadership role in ensuring environmental sustainability while supporting economic prosperity and social inclusion in Africa.

According to the Bank, World Environmental Day (WED) 2018, is a call to action for Africa to come together to combat plastic pollution, one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.

It said the celebration would afford stakeholders the opportunity to consider how they could make changes in their everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on the natural and human environment.

The bank said that the use of plastic had severe environmental and health consequences.

Source: NAN

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has declared tourism as the future of Nigeria as the nation hosts the 61st UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) conference.

The organisation has promised to support the country in developing the sector.

Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General, made the declaration in Abuja at a pre-conference media briefing he jointly addressed with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Pololikashvili and other executives of the organisation arrived in Nigeria early Sunday morning for the 61st UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) conference holding from June 4 to June 6 in Abuja.

Nigeria, last year, won the right to host UNWTO-CAF conference, which is the gathering of all African Ministers of Tourism, principal executives of the global tourism body and other stakeholders in the tourism sector.

Pololikashvili said Nigeria has lots of tourism potential to show to the world and the meeting would serve as a platform to showcase the country as continental tourism hub.

He commended the President Muhammadu Buharis administration for identifying tourism as one of the sectors for economic diversification.

He said that tourism is gaining weight as a development opportunity for the whole continent, with its vast diversity of nature, culture and its greatest vehicle for development.

Pololikashvili said that tourism has huge potential to generate lasting development opportunities in Africa and Nigeria in particular, if managed in the right ways.

He said that Africa is UNWTOs top priority in the area of tourism and investment promotion.

He mentioned some of the UNWTOs agenda for Africa to include; poverty alleviation, climate change, education and skills development and financing.

There are broad impact of tourism for the benefit of societies and its people, and promoting tourism as a priority in national agendas, he said.

The secretary-general said that UNWTO is planning to restore the training of journalists across African continent for better reportage.

The minister welcomed Pololikashvili and his team to the country, noting that Nigeria is the first the secretary-general would be attending his first UNWTO-CAF meeting since assumption of office in January 2018.

Mohammed said Nigeria is all set to host the best UNWTO-CAF Meeting ever, adding that all necessary preparations had been made to ensure a successful meeting.

We also expect an impressive attendance. As at today, we have confirmation from 166 foreign delegates, 26 Ministers and 332 Nigerian delegates, excluding the gentlemen of the press.

Several delegates have arrived and many more are expected in today, he said.

The minister said that the theme of the meeting Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development fitted very well into our quest to improve on the nations tourism statistics for planning purposes and the ultimate development of tourism sector. (NAN)

Source: NAN

England's World Cup build-up continued with a friendly win over Nigeria at Wembley.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill celebrated his return to England's squad and stepped up his claims for a starting place against Tunisia in Volgograd on 18 June by opening the scoring with a powerful header after only seven minutes.

England's total first-half domination was emphasised when captain Harry Kane scored his eighth goal in his last seven appearances six minutes before the interval when Nigeria keeper Francis Uzoho allowed his 18-yard shot to slip in.

Arsenal's Alex Iwobi gave Nigeria's thousands of fans inside Wembley hope two minutes after the break with a crisp finish but England - who had Raheem Sterling booked for diving - closed out the victory in relatively untroubled fashion.

England's preparations continue with another friendly against Costa Rica at Elland Road on Thursday.

Sterling has dominated the headlines and the build-up to this friendly after he was pictured sporting a tattoo of a gun on his leg and revelations about his late arrival for England's pre-World Cup training camp when they assembled earlier this month.

And he was a central figure again here at Wembley as manager Gareth Southgate puts the finishing touches to his plans for the World Cup in Russia.

Sterling, whose name was warmly greeted by England's fans when it was announced, formed a lively partnership with captain Kane - but it was also a day of frustration for the Manchester City attacker.

Southgate, who admitted he briefly considered dropping Sterling after that late arrival to join up with England, will have relished some aspects and the signs of promise in that link with Kane but will demand much greater end product.

Sterling never stopped running and probing but was too wasteful, chipping a good chance wide of the far post in the first half and failing to find the final delivery on occasions.

He was also rightly booked for diving in the second half as he tumbled theatrically when confronted by Nigeria keeper Francis Uzoho as he raced into the area.

Sterling's energy and application, however, could not be doubted and he will play a key role in Southgate's line-up when their World Cup campaign opens against Tunisia in Volgograd on 18 June.

Source: BBC

The Hindu newspaper has reported the death of three Nigerians in a rented accommodation in Uttam Nagar area of New Delhi.

The Nigerians were found dead on Friday, with the police recovering bottles of alcohol and soft drinks from the spot. The Times of India said all the three men were found frothing in the mouth.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Shibesh Singh said the deceased have been identified as David Christopher, Greece Ben, and David (I), all in their 30s.

While Greece used to live on the third floor of the rented accommodation, David used to reside on the second. David (I) had rented a house nearby but used to visit the two often.

The bodies were found on the third floor of the rented accommodation.

“Greece and David were here on a business visa. Greece had come in March and David had come in April,” Mr. Singh said.

The police received a PCR call around 12.30 p.m. from the landlord of the deceased stating that a foul smell was emanating from the house.

“The whole building is inhabited by people from African countries. There is a common kitchen near floor three. A resident of the building passed by and knocked on the door because of the smell, but no one opened. He then called the landlord, who called the police,” the DCP said.

When the police broke open the door, they found the bodies of David and Greece in one room and David (I)’s body in another room.

“One of the three bodies was in a state of decomposition. There were no strangulation marks or any other external injuries on the bodies,” Mr. Singh said.

The police have shifted the bodies to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.

Source: NAN

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that he will not be re-contesting the national chairmanship position in the forthcoming National Convention slated for June 23, in the partys interest.

He stated this on Friday night in Abuja while speaking with newsmen, adding that his decision was taken after wide consultation with close political associates and family members and not because of intimidation.

However, he said that the tenure extension that was hitherto agreed by the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) suffered a set-back following President Muhammadu Buharis opposition.

According to him, the tenure extension would have helped to stabilise the party in the face of some of its challenges and may have prevented the crisis that followed its recent congresses in some states of the federation.

He said that some of the party leaders ought to have considered the tenure extension to be in the best interest of the party.

This, he said, would have ensured that the party go into the 2019 elections as a united fighting force, rather than one that was potentially weakened by internal conflicts arising from competitive congresses and convention.

Odigie-Oyegun urged party leaders to close ranks and to make the party a strong fighting force ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Now that the Convention Committee has invited interested aspirants to obtain forms to contest various national positions in our party, it has become necessary for me to state my position.

I have consulted widely with my family, friends and associates, even though, I had the desire to re-contest as the national chairman of the party.

I have decided that it is ultimately in the best interest of the party for me to withdraw from the race, he said.

I believe that the party faces difficult days ahead, and all critical stakeholders in its leadership would be required to bind together for a common purpose.

He advised that a less-contentious convention would be better for the party adding that he had always sought to be part of solving the partys problems.

I do not intend to be part of the problem for APC to solve. It is for this reason that I hereby declare that I will not be seeking re-election as the national chairman.

However, I will continue to perform my functions as the national chairman of the party, till my tenure officially ends on Monday, June 25 when a new set of party executives will be inaugurated, Odigie-Oyegun said.

Source: NAN

NAN reporting

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, and an unidentified person were shot on Friday in Ado-Ekiti at a reception for the candidate of the party, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the reception which held at the APC secretariat in the Ekiti capital had attracted a large crowd of party supporters.

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu, Fayemi and a former Minister of Works, Dayo Adeyeye , were descending the stairs case at the secretariat when a policeman was said to have suddenly shot into the air to scare the surging crowd.

Bamidele was said to have been shot on the hand in the ensuing melee while the other victim was also hit.

The two victims were hurriedly conveyed to a hospital where they are said to be under treatment.

The APC spokesperson in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement described the incident as a clear case of assassination attempt.

He claimed that the gunman had aimed his gun at Fayemi and missed, with the bullet hitting Bamidele and the other victim.

He also claimed that the policeman was fake and an assassin.

But the police spokesman in the state, Caleb Chukwuemeka, said the command was still awaiting the report of the incident from its officers deployed to provide security at the reception.

Fayemi and his entourage had earlier been received in Ikere Ekiti by a long convoy of vehicles and large crowd of party supporters, resulting in a traffic snarl on the Ado-Ekiti Akure road.

Addressing the crowd, Akeredolu applauded the party members for putting behind them the post-primary crisis.

He said the huge crowd was indicative that the state had remained a stronghold of the APC.

Fayemi has returned with full force to reclaim the land. He needs your support and this task shall be achieved in the mighty name of God, he said.

Fayemi, in his response, said we are here to work for Ekiti and our party leaders and this we are going to do together because it is a collective responsibility.

We are going to work with everybody, including those who just decamped to our party, because we are one big family in APC.

We shall win by the grace of God. Our case was like the case of a ram who moved backwards to garner more strength. We are here to rescue Ekiti and it is a task we must achieve.

Adeyeye, who returned to the party on Tuesday after 12 years in the PDP, also said: I have returned home and my mission is to ensure that we kill (Gov. Ayo) Fayose politically by burying him.

We shall mobilise well to achieve this task and by the grace of God this is a must-win and must accomplished task for all of us.

NAN reports that Fayemis choice for deputy governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, was also in the entourage.

*Olatunbosuns Statement:

Fayemi Survives Assassination, As Ex-Lawmaker, Others Sustain Gunshot Wounds
Bloody politicking returned to Ekiti State yesterday(Friday), as former Governor Kayode Fayemi survived assassination in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

Fayemi resigned his appointment on Wednesday as the Minister of Mines and Steel Development and was returning to Ekiti State on Friday in a welcome party planned by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was a smooth ride from Akure Airport to Ikere-Ekiti where thousands of supporters came out to give him a rousing welcome.

Ikere-Ekiti journey to Ado-Ekiti, a distance of about nine kilometres, lasted two hours in a heavy traffic that was punctuated by four gunmen suspected to be agents of the state government who strategically positioned themselves at the partys secretariat in Ado-Ekiti for the attack.

One of the assailants dressed in mobile police uniform was apprehended and he is now helping the police in their investigation.

They fired gunshots aimed at Fayemi but hit a former lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, after the former minister had taken a few steps forward before the bullets hit the target.

Bamidele and other victims were immediately rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where doctors are responding to his treatment.

Bamidele was fatally wounded in the attack while others also sustained various degrees of injuries.

Other victims in the hospital included Olabode Joshua, Olanrewaju Gbenga, Adebayo Ogunjemilehin, Ogunmodede Oluwole and Alex Adeleye.

Taiwo Olatunbosun

Publicity Secretary

June 1, 2018

Source: NAN

=====Australias Catholic Church has committed to join the governments redress scheme of 3.8 billion Australian dollars (2.2 billion) for victims of child sexual abuse.

The move paves the way for compensation to be paid to people who were sexually abused as children by church figures and puts pressure on other institutions to follow suit.

The church is the first non-government institution to opt into the plan and estimates it will itself be liable for about one billion dollars (568 million) in compensation.

===The UN Conference on Trade and Development says no fewer than 17 million Africans left the continent in 2017 in search of greener pastures.

In its Economic Development in Africa report, the agency also said 5.5 million people moved to Africa from other continents while some 19 million international migrants moved within Africa, boosting economic growth in the continent.

It urged the world to dispel misconceptions and harmful narratives targeting migration in Africa.

Catholic Church commits $1billion to child sexual abuse compensation – 02:44
— News Agency of Nigeria

===Americas Chamber of Commerce has predicted that President Donald Trumps strict stance on trade could put 2.6 million jobs at risk and possible US withdrawal from NAFTA, the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

Mr Tom Donohue, President of the business organisation of the Chamber, in a memo to the board of directors, said a NAFTA withdrawal would kill as many as 1.8 million American jobs in the first year.

===The World Health Organisation says it commenced campaign to eliminate Yellow Fever in the country in February, with the vaccination of two million people in Internally Displaced Persons camps in Borno and surrounding communities.

The organisations Communications Officer, Ms Charity Warigon, said the campaign aimed to vaccinate 25 million Nigerians in different parts of the country would continue to the end of the year and in the coming years.

=====The International Organisation for Migration and the European Union have evacuated 186 more Nigerians from Libya.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency, South-West Zone, said the returnees arrived in two batches at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

=====The UN Security Council has extended by 45 days sanctions against South Sudan.

The resolution passed 9 yes votes and six abstentions from the 15 member Security Council, giving just enough votes for the draft to be adopted as Resolution 2418.

The resolution, which threatens an arms embargo on South Sudan, would place a travel ban and asset freeze on six individuals, high-ranking government officials and prominent rebel leaders, unless the parties stop fighting and agree on a viable political agreement.

Source: NAN